NEW YORK – The pitcher Luis Severino He was activated Monday by the New York Yankees before the first game of the series against Texas Rangers and is set for his first major league performance in nearly two years.
“It will be like my first period here in 2015. It will be the same emotion,” said the Dominican. “But after I do the first pitch, I think everything will go back to how it was before.”
The manager of the New York ninth, Aaron Boone, said he plans to include the star in the bullpen. New York started the day a game and a half behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the second AL wild-card spot.
“He could find himself in the highest leverage situation or whatever and he could evolve into a multi-entry role,” Boone said. “We think we have a very good pitcher that we have to add to the mix today.”
The 27-year-old right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery on February 27, 2020. He had four minor league appearances, totaling 10 two-thirds innings for Tampa, Hudson Valley and Somerset, allowing four runs, five hits and a home run with three walks and 15 strikeouts.
“He’s worked on his change and I think he’s added a kind of cut straight / slider hybrid to his repertoire,” Boone said.
With 19 wins in 2018, Severino signed a four-year, $ 40 million contract before the 2019 season. He was limited by a shoulder ailment in three performances during that season, the first on September 17 and the last. on October 28, plus a pair of postseason starts on October 7 against the Minnesota Twins in the American League Division Series and on October 15 against Houston in the Championship Series.
“It’s been a long time,” Severino commented. “I am definitely ready for any situation.”
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